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(No Model.)

J. F. WINTER.

BUCKLE.

No. 338,327. Patented Mar. 23,1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WINTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W. MCGILL,

OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

Application filed May 19, 1885. Serial No. 166,067.

To aZZ whom, it may concern/f Beit known that I, JOHN F. WINTER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Buckles, of which the following is speciiication.

This invention relates to buckles for suspender-straps and other purposes, by which the straps can be readily adjusted by pulling them in one direction, while they are rigidly clamped when the strain is exerted in opposite direction.

The invention consists of a supporting main plate and of a hinged and convexly-bent buckleplate that is pressed by a spring on the main plate, and provided with a transverse tongue and a slot at each side of the tongue for the passage of the strap, the buckle-plate being further provided at its front edge with an upwardly bent heel for readily opening the buckle-plate when passing the strap through the slots of the plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 represent side elevations of two different constructions of my improved buckle. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections of Figs. l and 2, and Fig. 5 is a vertical trans-V verse section of a modified construction of the buckle-plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the supporting main plate of my improved buckle, which plate is provided at one end with a slot, a, to which a strap or band is attached. The supporting-plate A is provided at the sides with upwardly-bent ears or sleeves c', that are made integral therewith, to which ears is pivoted a buckle-plate, B, which is made of convex shape, and provided with a tongue, b,

and a transverse slot, b', at each side of thev tongue b. The angular bend of the buckleplate niay be either at the front part, where the tongue b is arranged, as in Figs. 2 and 3, or at the rear part of the buckle-plate, as shown in Fig. 5; but the bend must be a greater distance from the supporting-plate A than the pivots or pintle of the buckle-plate, as otherwise the buckle-plate would not exert the re- 'skECIhfC/AL'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,327, dated March 23, 1886.

(No model.)

quired friction on the .strap to be applied thereto. The strap to be applied to the buckle is passed first through the rear slot, then over the tongue, and then through the front slot. The front edge of the buckle-plate is provided with an upwardly-bent end or heel, d, by which the buckle-plate can be lifted for conveniently passing the strap through the same and adjusting it therein.

The buckle-plate B is pressed by a spring, e, onto the supporting-plate A, the springpressure being obtained either by slitting the supporting-plate in the form of a springtongue, which bears against a downwardlybent heel, e, at the rear edge of the buckleplate, as shown in Fig. 1, or by hinging the buckle-plate to the supporting-plate and appl ying a spiral spring, et, around the pintle of the hinge and to the buckle-plate and supporting-plate, as shown in Fig. 2. In either case the buckle-plate Bis retained on the supporting-plate until lifted against the pressure of the spring by taking hold of the front end, d.

By pulling the outer end of the strap passed through the slots of the buckle-plate in one direction, the strap may be readily adjusted in the buckle, while the strap is rigidly retained by the buckle when strain is exerted in the opposite direction thereon, owing to the friction between the overlapping parts of the strap and the strap and the buckle plate, which friction increases with the increasing strain on the strap.

My improved spring-buckle may be used for suspender-straps, stocking-sup porters, tilestraps, aud for all other purposes on which a simple and reliable spring buckle or clasp is required. The buckle admits the ready adjustment of the strap without exerting a cutting or bearing action on the fabric, as the clasp has teeth biting into the fabric.

Having thus described inyinvention, I claim as n ew and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination of the main supportingplate A, provided with ears c', the angular or convex clamping buckle plate or lever B, pivoted to said ears, and adapted to swing into horizontal position and to close at its lower end against the main plate, the bend of the buckle-plate extending, when closed against the main plateLbeyond the plane of its pivotal connection therewith, and a spring which forces the buckle-plate against the main plate, for clamping the lapped ends of the strap between said plates, said plates being provided with lneans for connecting the strap thereto, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the main plate A,

provided with ears a and with the spring c,

and the angular buckle-plate B, pivoted to said ears, and provided with the bar b for the strap,

and with the inwardly bent end e, resting against saidV spring e, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the main plate A, the 

